I am a new Catalina 36 owner (1985 model year, hull number 466) and I have two questions. One relates to the mast tuning and the other the gap that appears between the top of the head surround and the underside of the deck. First the mast tuning. Should the mast be raked or straight and should it have any bend? Also, how tight should the lower shrouds be and how tight should I make the backstay? Rgarding the gap between the forward and side head teak surround and the underside of the deck. It is about 1/4" on these two sides and flush on the aft teak wall that faces the settee. Is this a problem and,if so,what causes it and how can it be fixed? I assume that if the mast is overtightened that it can turely "break the back" of the boat. I don't think that my 36 has been abused in that I am the 3rd owner and the boat is in great shape.
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C36
Cory; I have a 93 C36, and here is what I have done. First I find it difficult to change the way the mast leans 'rake'. The mast should be straight especially from side to side. I like a small amount of prebend aft. The back stay should be tight enough to keep the fore stay from sagging when sailing upwind if you don't have an adjustable backstay. I have no idea what your second question is about.
Cory; I have a 93 C36, and here is what I have done. First I find it difficult to change the way the mast leans 'rake'. The mast should be straight especially from side to side. I like a small amount of prebend aft. The back stay should be tight enough to keep the fore stay from sagging when sailing upwind if you don't have an adjustable backstay. I have no idea what your second question is about.
Mast Tune
The mast should be centered in the deck (the partners). There should be wedges to hold it there. For adjusting the rake, the size of the shims forward and aft of the mast can be different sizes. On some boats the mast butt is shimmed fore and aft at the mast step, others shim the mast at the partners. Start with 0 rake (unless you have a spec from Catalina that says otherwise). If you hang your tool box from the main halyard the halyard will hang next to the boom some small distance aft of the gooseneck. 1-2" is near 0 rake and seems to work for many Catalinas. Check for straight side to side by using a metal tape from the main halyard to the upper shroud chainplate pins. Once it is straight put about 10-15% tension on the shrouds. The lowers will probably need less tension than the uppers. Set the forestay tension to the same or a little more than the upper shrouds. The forestay is used to set rake, the backstay is used to set tension on the forestay. If you tension the backstay a little less than the upper shrouds, the forestay will be a little tighter than the uppers. Go sail the boat in a decent breeze (10-12 knots). Then going to weather, the leeward shrouds should not go completely slack. If a wire goes floppy loose, tighten the turnbuckle a full turn, tack and tighten the other turnbuckle exactly the same amount. Repeat until the leeward shrouds do not go slack. Now check the mast for straightness again (while sailing heeled). If the masthead sags off to leeward the upper needs another turn or two, if the mast sags to leeward at the spreaders, tighten the lowers a turn. when you are done you should have 15-20% tension on the uppers and forestay and a bit less on the lowers. Pin the turnbuckles and tape ... have a beer and enjoy a faster, easier to sail boat.
The mast should be centered in the deck (the partners). There should be wedges to hold it there. For adjusting the rake, the size of the shims forward and aft of the mast can be different sizes. On some boats the mast butt is shimmed fore and aft at the mast step, others shim the mast at the partners. Start with 0 rake (unless you have a spec from Catalina that says otherwise). If you hang your tool box from the main halyard the halyard will hang next to the boom some small distance aft of the gooseneck. 1-2" is near 0 rake and seems to work for many Catalinas. Check for straight side to side by using a metal tape from the main halyard to the upper shroud chainplate pins. Once it is straight put about 10-15% tension on the shrouds. The lowers will probably need less tension than the uppers. Set the forestay tension to the same or a little more than the upper shrouds. The forestay is used to set rake, the backstay is used to set tension on the forestay. If you tension the backstay a little less than the upper shrouds, the forestay will be a little tighter than the uppers. Go sail the boat in a decent breeze (10-12 knots). Then going to weather, the leeward shrouds should not go completely slack. If a wire goes floppy loose, tighten the turnbuckle a full turn, tack and tighten the other turnbuckle exactly the same amount. Repeat until the leeward shrouds do not go slack. Now check the mast for straightness again (while sailing heeled). If the masthead sags off to leeward the upper needs another turn or two, if the mast sags to leeward at the spreaders, tighten the lowers a turn. when you are done you should have 15-20% tension on the uppers and forestay and a bit less on the lowers. Pin the turnbuckles and tape ... have a beer and enjoy a faster, easier to sail boat.
Cory, congrats on the new (for you) C36
Both Mick and Moody gave you good advise. The C36 mast really isn't designed with any mast rake. Like they said above I put just a "tad" aft bend in the mast but hardly enough to even notice. The mast on the C36 is the proverbial "telephone pole" its straight and solid and not really designed to be bendy and tweek much like some boats. Have you thought about joining the C36 International Organization? I would suggest you do. Its very little money and with a 3 year subscription you get a CD with owner manuals (boat, engine and equipment), tech notes back to 1983, and it's fully searchable. (I know there have been tech notes written on mast tuning) This CD alone is worth the price of dues (just buy one engine manual) - But it also gets you the quarterly Catalina "Mainsheet" magazine Here is the C36 website -- its loaded http://www.catalina36.org/association/join.htm You might want to also consider joining the 36 Fleet 5 or LISCA (links below) -- we are very active on Long Island Sound and have lots of fun rendezvous scheduled. http://www.catalina36.org/Fleet5/ http://www.saillisca.com/ Where do you keep your boat in Stamford? I keep my '99 C36 at Brewers East (Inners") Pier4 Slip4 . Boats name is "Breathless". Stop by - I am there most every weekend.
Both Mick and Moody gave you good advise. The C36 mast really isn't designed with any mast rake. Like they said above I put just a "tad" aft bend in the mast but hardly enough to even notice. The mast on the C36 is the proverbial "telephone pole" its straight and solid and not really designed to be bendy and tweek much like some boats. Have you thought about joining the C36 International Organization? I would suggest you do. Its very little money and with a 3 year subscription you get a CD with owner manuals (boat, engine and equipment), tech notes back to 1983, and it's fully searchable. (I know there have been tech notes written on mast tuning) This CD alone is worth the price of dues (just buy one engine manual) - But it also gets you the quarterly Catalina "Mainsheet" magazine Here is the C36 website -- its loaded http://www.catalina36.org/association/join.htm You might want to also consider joining the 36 Fleet 5 or LISCA (links below) -- we are very active on Long Island Sound and have lots of fun rendezvous scheduled. http://www.catalina36.org/Fleet5/ http://www.saillisca.com/ Where do you keep your boat in Stamford? I keep my '99 C36 at Brewers East (Inners") Pier4 Slip4 . Boats name is "Breathless". Stop by - I am there most every weekend.
owner
I'm trying to tune my mast since I just purchased a 1998 Catalina 36. The mast was removed for shipment by the yard - I wasn't present. With the mast centered port and starboard, and vertical it comes through the deck touching the aft and starboard sides of the hole in the deck. If I put the wedges back in I either have to bend the mast or it'll be off center. What should I do?
I'm trying to tune my mast since I just purchased a 1998 Catalina 36. The mast was removed for shipment by the yard - I wasn't present. With the mast centered port and starboard, and vertical it comes through the deck touching the aft and starboard sides of the hole in the deck. If I put the wedges back in I either have to bend the mast or it'll be off center. What should I do?
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